04.02.2022 – Not a simple task

The ocean was unexpectedly calm this sunny morning as we set off to find cetaceans out on the Atlantic. Despite the quiet wind conditions, our guests did feel the effect of the swell and heat during a long search that took us far west almost beyond Paul do Mar. Just as we were about to give up and turn back, a few dorsal fins appeared in the distance.

A handful of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) were cruising eastward and took a minute to curiously inspect our boat. The females even turned to look up at us as they gently swam by while the bull kept a good eye on his harem at the rear of the group. These beaked whales belong to Madeira’s treasures; the island is one of the best places on earth to encounter them (and encountering a beaked whale is really not a simple task).

We would’ve loved another encounter with the curious beaked whales during our Stenella tour in the afternoon but, this time, our long search ended without a cetacean sighting. Our guests were happy about the time at sea nonetheless and appreciated our little encounters with basking Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), a few oceanic crustaceans and a soaring Northern gannet (Morus bassanus). Difficult days are simple reminders that no encounter is to be taken for granted on the incredible Atlantic Ocean.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Blainville’s beaked whales

Stenella

15:00 No cetacean sighting